Comets and asteroids are small celestial bodies that orbit the Sun within our solar system.
**Comets** are composed primarily of ice, dust, and rocky material, and they typically have highly elliptical orbits. When they approach the Sun, the heat causes the ice to sublimate, leading to the formation of a glowing coma and often a spectacular tail. This phenomenon is what distinguishes comets from other celestial objects. Famous examples include Halley’s Comet and Comet Hale-Bopp.
**Asteroids**, on the other hand, are mostly rocky and metallic bodies that also orbit the Sun, primarily found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. They range in size from small boulders to objects hundreds of kilometers in diameter, like Ceres, which is classified as a dwarf planet. Asteroids generally do not exhibit comas or tails.
Both comets and asteroids are remnants from the early solar system and provide valuable insights into its formation and evolution. Their study contributes to our understanding of the building blocks of planets and the potential for impact events on Earth.
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